Maybe you forgot to get a present for your dear little brother. Maybe you overlooked your best guy friend. Maybe you decided at the last minute that the dude you’ve been hooking up with for the past four months is worthy of a Christmas present. Who knows, I’m not here to judge. What I am here to do, however, is help you out of this little life rut you’ve found yourself in.

So let’s assess your problem. You need a present for that special man in your life (hi dad, love you, please don’t read any further!). You have no idea how to blow his mind via the art of gift giving and you could use a clue. Or 24.

Lucky, our best bros over at COEDMagazine put together a stellar gift guide sure to satisfy even the pickiest of fellas. You’re welcome!

Dear Tuffy Luv,

What do I get my new guy for Christmas? We’ve been dating for a month and a half. I don’t want to come on too strong but I also don’t want to look cheap. Thanks!

Gifter

Dear Gifter,

Okay, I love it!

You’re totally right. You don’t want to come off as a creepster. So no, like, gold watches or new Adidas or helicopters or something. But you’re also right you don’t want to look disinterested by getting him, like, a plastic piece of poop. So walk that line!! Here are some guidelines lil’ ol’ Tuffy done thought up:

1. Keep it around $30. That’s the right amount at this stage. It’s thoughtful but not over the top.

2. Keep it personal. Think about something he told you he liked. Loves a sports team? Get him a team jersey. Extra points if you can get a signed ball. Does he like hiking? Get him a new backpack. He will be so thrilled you were listening (and you better be listening!!) and that you went out of your way to get him something he’d really love.

3. No personal hygiene products. Magazines tell you he’ll love it. Magazines lie. He wants something that’s fun. He’ll brush his teeth after the New Year.

4. Tickets are generally good. Tix to an event that HE is interested in (very important that HE is interested in the event!!!) that you can get to together is a totally sweet surprise. For the ticket thing, you can go a little over $30 if you need to, since you’ll be sharing in the gift. HOWEVER!!! Do NOT get anything too far in advance — too clingy! The event should be within the next few weeks from when he receives the gift.

5. Be genuine. Get him something because you WANT to. If you find getting him a good, personal gift to be too much of a chore, maybe it’s time to break the floop up and find someone you really care about.

Happy holidays!

Hearts & Skulls,

Tuffy Luv

Question?! Answer: Ask Tuffy Luv.

The holiday seasons are all about eating too many dips, spending way too much money on frenemy gifts, and watching Elf on repeat. This year we’re prepared to take the stress and the frustration out of holiday gift giving by giving you the ultimate gift guides to buying the perfect presents for your favorite people (and we’re splitting into 3 different price ranges so you can choose the gift based on how much you actually like the person!). So set this series as your favorite because all week we’re bringing you the best.

It’s tough to buy gifts for the friend who loves to read. The choice should seem obvious, shouldn’t it? Buy a book. But what type of book? What has she read? What does he want to read? Hardcover or paperback? New or used? The questions are endless. And that’s before you even get into accessories. Are bookmarks too cliché? Will she even use them? Are all those gadgets really necessary?

All valid questions. But more importantly, all answerable questions. College Candy is breaking down the answers for you. With prices ranging from $11.99 to $139 we’ve got all your bases covered, from the books, to the book lights to the book shelves.

So no more standing in the middle of Barnes and Noble staring at the stacks of bestsellers attempting to figure out which one is actually worth reading. I’ve done the hard work for you and scoured those (cyber) shelves to provide you with the best gift options for the bookworms in your life.

Get even more gift giving inspiration in CollegeCandy’s Holiday Central!

The holiday seasons are all about eating too many dips, spending way too much money on frenemy gifts, and watching Elf on repeat. This year we’re prepared to take the stress and the frustration out of holiday gift giving by giving you the ultimate gift guides to buying the perfect presents for your favorite people (and we’re splitting into 3 different price ranges so you can choose the gift based on how much you actually like the person!). So set this series as your favorite because all week we’re bringing you the best.

We all have that friend, you know, the one who has the perfect outfit for every occasion. The one whose wardrobe makes your mouth water. The one whose every outfit looks like it stepped out of the pages of Vogue. She spends hours studying fashion magazines and style blogs and would rather be shopping than anywhere else. She knows exactly what she wants and exactly how to make it happen. Style is her sixth sense. So how do you even attempt to go about buying a present for someone with that type of shopping experience?

You get her something else to add to her fabulous wardrobe.

I’ve done some fashion magazine studying myself these last few days and found you ladies the perfect gifts for your fashion forward friends. Not only are all of these items absolutely on trend, but they’re also absolutely affordable, and any one of them would be a welcome addition to a fashionista’s wardrobe.

Get even more gift giving inspiration in CollegeCandy’s Holiday Central!

And, um, you only have a week left! Let us help:

Tips before you buy

-If you can make something your parents will appreciate, go for it. If you’re an art student, consider making a one-of-a-kind piece for your parents; it’s cheap and shows you are putting your education to good use.

-Before you go shopping, set a budget. Decide how much you want to spend on each parent and stick to it. Chances are your budget isn’t going to be very high, so if you want to splurge a bit, consider combining resources with your siblings. Not only will you have more money to work with, but your parents will appreciate that you are mature enough to cooperate.

-If your parents are together, consider buying one gift for both them. It can be something they can enjoy together, and you can either save money or get a more meaningful gift.

Gifts for both parents

1. Family Pictures — If you have siblings, go to the nearest Walmart or Sears photo studio and get group pictures done. Choose the nicest (as a group), get a package that is within your budget and go buy a nice frame. Not only will your parents have a nice picture of the group of you, but they will have a set of pictures for next years Christmas cards, without nagging you.

2. Art Replicas – If your parents aren’t avid art collectors, consider buying them a replica piece. Art gallery gift shops often have framed or plaque-mounted prints of famous art pieces that aren’t too expensive.

3. Date night — Most parents don’t take the time to go out on dates. Why not buy a gift certificate to a restaurant or coupons for a movie? An added bonus would be to babysit any younger siblings you might have.

Gifts for Mom

1. Bath Products that give back — Bath products are always a nice gift to let Mom know you want her to unwind, but what about a gift that also gives back? Philosophy has select products that donate 100% of net proceeds to charity.

2. Fun accessories – If your mom is anything like mine, she doesn’t often treat herself to new things. Mom’s are often tricky to buy clothes for, so fun accessories, such as a scarf or a funky piece of jewelry, are the way to go.Find something that you know would look great on her, but she might not pick out for herself. An added bonus is to buy something from Etsy, or from a local artisan; the piece will be more unique.

3. Bonding Activity — When you’re busy with school, you don’t always get the chance to spend some quality time with Mama. Why not plan a fun activity while you’re at home? Or if there’s an upcoming play or concert in your area that you both would enjoy, buy some tickets for you and your her. Spending time with her daughter is priceless (and you know she can’t re-gift.)

4. Books — A book is always a good choice for Mom. You could buy her a bestseller she would enjoy, or an instructional book to give her tips to treat herself. Just steer clear of anything that may make her feel bad, like self-help or diet books. Trust me.

Gifts for Dad

1. Magazine subscription — find a magazine your dad will enjoy and sign him up for a subscription. The gift gives as many times over as issues in the year. Plus, your dad will think of you each time it comes in the mail. Awwww.

2. Power Monitor – This device is seriously cool. It will allow Dad to track how much energy things in your house consume. It’s an environmentally-friendly gift, and in the current economic state it will help save money.

3. Book Light – If your dad travels a lot, or likes to read before bed, a book light is a great gift. An individual light means it will be easier on Pop’s eyes, and he won’t disturb your mom if he’s up reading later.

4. DVD Season — If your dad is too busy to watch TV, or falls asleep halfway through a show, why not buy him a season of a show you know he’d enjoy. He might not have gotten around to watching a show like Mad Men, but he might get hooked if he could watch a whole season at once.

Got any other bright ideas? Help a sister out!

Just like we are always wondering what guys are thinking (which usually consists of sex, sports, beer and sex), guys want to know what’s on our minds. What do we want? What do we like? What the hell do we mean when we curtly say “it’s fine” after they spend an entire freaking weekend watching sports and ignoring us?

Contrary to popular belief, they care what we think. Not only because they want to please us, but because they want to woo us, lure us…and get us into their beds.

So, we at CollegeCandy decided it was time to let guys know exactly what we like/hate/and dream about at night. So, vote, comment and pass this on to those boys in your life. And remember: unlike sex with most college men, this is all for you in the end.

When it comes to holiday gifts, which would you prefer your man to get you?